School money: which schools are in deficit, and which are doing well
Of 21,719 state schools in England with a full-year return, 3,363 were in deficit (15%), owing a combined £739.2m. Another 1,183 are heading that way: they have spent more than they received for two years or more and their reserves are running out.
- In deficit 3,363 (15%)
- Heading for deficit 1,183 (5%)
- Tight 1,995 (9%)
- Healthy 4,914 (23%)
- Large reserves 10,264 (47%)
Latest returns: council-run schools 2025-26 (April–March), academies 2024/25 (September–August). How each status is worked out.
Share of council-run schools in deficit, by year
Biggest deficits
| # | School | Council | Deficit | % of income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | £6.7m | 200% | ||
2 | £5.9m | 46% | ||
3 | £5.7m | 94% | ||
4 | £4.3m | 54% | ||
5 | £3.8m | 65% | ||
6 | £3.5m | 46% | ||
7 | £3.0m | 39% | ||
8 | £2.9m | 37% | ||
9 | £2.9m | 64% | ||
10 | £2.7m | 70% |
Heading for deficit soonest
Spending more than they receive, with reserves that would run out within about three years at the current rate.
| # | School | Council | Reserve | Runs out in about |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | £1 | 0 year(s) | ||
2 | £16 | 0 year(s) | ||
3 | £107 | 0 year(s) | ||
4 | £1k | 0 year(s) | ||
5 | £43 | 0 year(s) | ||
6 | £671 | 0 year(s) | ||
7 | £164 | 0 year(s) | ||
8 | £1k | 0 year(s) | ||
9 | £391 | 0 year(s) | ||
10 | £447 | 0 year(s) |
Back in the black
Schools that were in deficit earlier in the period and now have healthy reserves.
| # | School | Council | Reserve now | % of income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | £805k | 86% | ||
2 | £5.7m | 68% | ||
3 | £2.3m | 64% | ||
4 | £640k | 64% | ||
5 | £5.3m | 64% | ||
6 | £462k | 60% | ||
7 | £1.2m | 57% | ||
8 | £660k | 56% | ||
9 | £1.6m | 55% | ||
10 | £304k | 54% |
Largest reserves for their size
A big reserve is a cushion, but it is also money not yet spent on current pupils.
| # | School | Council | Reserve | % of income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | £13.4m | 372% | ||
2 | £7.8m | 351% | ||
3 | £3.3m | 207% | ||
4 | £6.4m | 189% | ||
5 | £858k | 142% | ||
6 | £30.9m | 135% | ||
7 | £1.4m | 130% | ||
8 | £1.9m | 127% | ||
9 | £1.2m | 126% | ||
10 | £2.0m | 118% |
Councils with the most schools in deficit
| # | Council | Schools | In deficit | % in deficit | Heading for deficit | Combined deficits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 419 | 85 | 20% | 30 | £10.9m | |
2 | 287 | 79 | 28% | 11 | £18.5m | |
3 | 279 | 77 | 28% | 28 | £14.3m | |
4 | 306 | 74 | 24% | 12 | £9.5m | |
5 | 408 | 74 | 18% | 8 | £15.4m | |
6 | 441 | 70 | 16% | 11 | £21.7m | |
7 | 627 | 60 | 10% | 38 | £8.5m | |
8 | 243 | 60 | 25% | 12 | £11.7m | |
9 | 394 | 58 | 15% | 12 | £5.1m | |
10 | 270 | 56 | 21% | 15 | £9.0m |
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